S-Class Hunter Heals with Monsters - Chapter 164



Only Noblemtl

Episode 164: The Day a Part of My Emotions Disappeared

* * *

Even with the window closed, I could hear Dodak’s name being called out. The sound spread like dominoes.

Dodaki, who was sitting on Cheon Do-un’s lap, tilted his head when he heard that.

“Hear me? They’re all calling you. You’ve become popular.”

Cheon Do-woon stroked Dodak and looked out the window.

The corners of his mouth slightly rose.

‘I didn’t know the reaction would be this big. It’s fun.’

It’s true that I had an impact on people through Dodaki. But I didn’t know that the response would be this good.

People came out into the streets, laughing and making noise like it was a festival.

There were even people who wrote ‘Dodoki-nim’ on a piece of paper and waved it above their heads.

“I guess I’m just being carried away by the atmosphere… but if I make one wrong move, people will mistake me for a fanatic. Is this something to be so excited about?”

When Cheon Do-woon looked puzzled, the association president laughed.

“Gold City has been peaceful for decades. That’s why it’s even more so. It must be exciting because it’s the first time you’ve actually seen a monster.”

“Is this your first time seeing a monster?”

Cheon Do-woon had a puzzled expression on his face.

Although it was more stable than in the old days, gates still opened here and there.

Is it possible in a world like that to not have seen a monster for decades?

“Of course, there is a gate open in this city too. But the Hunter Association headquarters is there. High-ranking Awakened are gathered there.”

“Ah. I see. So it’s being dealt with before the damage spreads.”

“That’s right. Gold City was originally built in an area where the gates opened the least frequently.”

Areas that were once considered safe.

An area densely populated with shelters. Gold City was a city formed as these shelters gathered together and developed.

“The people of this city have never experienced anything like this before. They must have panicked because it was the first time they had ever experienced something like this.”

The citizens must have felt like they were going to die. Some even despaired, thinking that the world was going to end again.

When I thought like that, Cheon Do-un appeared.

An old-time S-class hunter. People felt relieved just by that title.

It didn’t stop there, it even showed mysterious powers to heal injured people.

Since it was broadcast live, it was natural that those who had despaired of dying were excited.

“Everyone will be enjoying the festival. There’s no need to pour cold water on it. They’ll all go back to their own lives anyway.”

Chairman Lee Yun-su said with a hearty laugh. At those words, Cheon Do-woon looked out the window.

People filling the streets cheering.

When I saw that, old memories flashed through my mind.

‘I saw a similar sight when I was young.’

It must have been about a year since I was kidnapped to the lab.

Cheon Do-woon was 10 years old. He looked out the window and recalled the events of that time.

* * *

Late at night, young Cheon Do-woon woke up to a groaning sound.

The main culprit of the commotion is his roommate, Yoo Beom.

Yoo Beom, crouching in the corner, was groaning with his head covered.

Why is he doing that? The room is dark so I can’t see well. Cheon Do-woon got out of bed. When he tried to turn on the light, Yoo Beom was startled.

[Father, don’t turn on the light!]

It was a voice like a scream. My hand that was about to turn on the light stopped.

Cheon Do-woon looked at Yoo Beom again.

It was still dark in the room, but as my eyes adjusted to the darkness, shapes began to appear.

Cheon Do-woon tilted his head after looking at Yoo Beom.

[Your hair has changed.]

Yoo Beom flinched at his muttering. Yoo Beom’s head had turned into that of an eagle.

[It seemed like I was fine during the day.]

There was no answer in return.

It is common for side effects to cause rapid physical changes. Cheon Do-woon was not surprised, having seen many children like that.

In fact, Yoo Beom wasn’t surprised. He had seen many children similar to himself at the research center, so it wasn’t something new.

But not being surprised and accepting reality were two separate issues.

Yoo Beom crouched in the corner. He banged his head against the wall. His sharp nails protruded from the wall and scratched at it.

Cheon Do-woon returned to bed after seeing such a crime.

[I heard it in the hallway earlier. The instructors are going to take the kids on a trip to the city tomorrow.]

[In the city…? Why?]

[I think it’s about showing the kids what it’s like outside. I think this is the time when they feel the greatest desire to escape.]

It’s been about a year since I was kidnapped to the lab.

The time when the desire to escape is at its highest. Around this time, the lab takes action.

The instructors took the children out in groups of three or four and showed them the state of the ruined city.

It shows how difficult life outside is.

Going out here gives the impression that the outside is also hell.

[Why are you saying that now?]

[It looks like you’ll escape soon. I won’t stop you. But think carefully about whether you can survive outside like that.]

Yoo Beom didn’t say anything.

[There’s also a bombing spell. Even if I go out, I’ll only be able to live for three days.]

This time, Yoo Beom couldn’t answer. The trend of the tide hadn’t yet become apparent.

Although he wanted to escape the lab, he didn’t have the resolve to risk his life.

Yoo Beom hesitated and then looked at Cheon Do Woon.

[Do you think I’ve changed a lot?]

[well.]

[What if my little brother sees this and cries?]

[Do you have a younger sibling?]

[Uh. I don’t think you’ll recognize me… What should I do?]

[What should I do? Just tell me until I find out. That’ll do.]

Yoo Beom’s face became blank as he heard the calm words. He was serious, but the answer he got back was simple.

He even speaks lightly as if there is no problem.

That actually reassured Yoo Beom.

Listening to Cheon Do-woon’s words, the change in my head didn’t seem like much.

It feels like foolish to have been curled up in a corner and suffering alone.

Yoo Beom returned to his bed with a hollow laugh.

[Hey, number 17. Aren’t you scared here?]

[Uh. I have a question, too. What does it feel like to be scared?]

Yoo Beom closed his mouth at the unexpected words.

Was he bluffing? I thought about it for a moment, but denied it.

That’s not what it feels like.

Yoo Beom had never seen Cheon Do Woon tremble in fear.

‘I don’t think he feels scared.’

Fear, dread, anxiety. Cheon Do-woon did not have such negative emotions.

‘It doesn’t seem to be a side effect of the experiment since it was like that from the beginning. What is it?’

On the first day of his kidnapping, Cheon Do-woon hit the researcher’s leg with a rock. From then on, Yoo Beom thought he was strange.

If you do something like that, there will be retaliation. Even though he must have known that, Cheon Do-woon did not hesitate.

It was almost bizarre that he didn’t hesitate at all.

[Aren’t you afraid of dying?]

There was no answer. It was a silence born of not understanding what it meant to be scared.

He knew the dictionary meaning, but Cheon Do-woon had never felt what it felt like.

He also vaguely felt that he was lacking some of his emotions.

I just didn’t care because it wasn’t uncomfortable.

‘Come to think of it, the teachers said similar things when I was at the daycare center.’

Cheon Do-woon recalled what he had overheard his daycare teachers say when he was young.

-That kid, Cheon Do-woon, is expressing his emotions quite well now.

-What do you mean?

-Mr. Kim, you don’t know because you haven’t been here long. Cheon Do-woon, he was a bit strange when he was little. He didn’t cry or laugh. He was like that even when he was a newborn.

As the old teacher spoke, heads nodded here and there.

-At first I thought he was a kid with a head injury.

-It’s gotten a lot better now, but it’s still strange.

-That’s right. What should I say… I think it’s like learning only the necessary emotions from a blank slate.

The last words were the director’s.

Learn only the emotions you need. It was something I heard when I was young, but for some reason, it stuck in my mind.

Am I really like that? Cheon Do-woon looked at Yoo Beom.

[Hey. Don’t you like it when you don’t know what’s scary?]

[Uh…? Well. What do you think?]

Yoo Beom thought for a moment and then said.

[Wouldn’t that be better? That’s what I think when I look at you. If there’s nothing to be afraid of, then there’s probably less to worry about.]

[okay?]

Not having fear is actually a good thing.

Cheon Do-woon repeated what Yoo Beom had said. It seemed as if he was learning something.

There was no more conversation after that. Yoo Beom closed his eyes and went to sleep.

‘Let’s go see Yujiah tomorrow.’

Yoo Beom thought. His younger brother might be surprised to see him and cry. But he couldn’t avoid it.

‘I have no choice but to tell him until he understands what I mean.’

After reaching a conclusion, my heart felt lighter.

It was the first day that Yoo Beom’s hair changed.

* * *

The next day, as Cheon Do-woon had said, the research center put the children in cars in groups of three or five.

An old jeep drove out of the mountains and into the city.

The children, who had been excited about going out for the first time in a long time, became dismayed when they saw the ruined city.

The place the instructors arrived at by car was an abandoned city where cult groups frequently appeared.

“The end has come”

“God is angry”

“Offer a sacrifice”

People were screaming and holding signs with strange phrases written on them.

I even made and sang songs that were awkward to listen to.

The instructors drove slowly around the city.

The world has already changed. Even if you leave the lab, you will have to live in a place like this. This is what it implicitly shows.

The children despaired at the bizarre cityscape. Their will to escape the laboratory was dashed.

Only one person. Only Yoo Beom was different. Yoo Beom’s eyes were not looking at the collapsed city, but at the sky.

-Beep beep

There was a bird flying around, making a sound. Yoo Beom couldn’t take his eyes off it.

‘I’ll be leaving soon.’

Cheon Do-woon thought to himself as he looked at such a criminal. The escape attempt would not be successful right away.

But those were the eyes of one who would try until he succeeded.

‘I’m going to die.’

I knew it, but I had no intention of stopping you. If you want to go even if you know you’ll die, then that’s also your choice.

If you are prepared to risk your life, you will find it painful to be stopped.

Then, you can just go and live the life you want.

Cheon Do-woon turned his gaze to the city.

Those who cheer and call upon God, those who erect strange statues and bow down to them, and those who cry that the end has come.

[Why are those people doing that?]

[It must be because I’m scared. My head is spinning from fear.]

The instructor sitting in the passenger seat said.

[If you go out, you’ll end up like that too. Do you think you can survive in this environment?]

The children were discouraged by the teacher’s words.

Cheon Do-woon listened to the instructor’s words and then looked around the street.

‘My roommate was right.’

I think it’s better not to feel fear.

The moment he became so certain, an unconscious change occurred within Cheon Do-un.

Emotions that have not grown until now because we did not feel the need for them.

Fear. All the emotions associated with it. It is not necessary for survival.

The moment the conclusion was perfectly reached, the latent World Tree cells began to move.

One emotion was crushed inside Cheon Do-un.

The feeling of fear that was not even ignited. The seed rotted away before it could sprout.

It was the moment when some of Cheon Do-woon’s emotions disappeared.

* * *

“We’ve arrived.”

Cheon Do-woon woke up from his thoughts at the voice of the association president.

Before I knew it, I had left the city and the car was stopped in a quiet park.

“This is my private property. Reporters won’t be allowed in. Let’s get some fresh air.”

Chairman Lee Yun-su got out of the car with a bright face.

What was he trying to say by coming all the way here? Cheon Do-woon also got off, feeling curious.

He followed the chairman and stopped for a moment.

‘The siblings are here.’

I felt the siblings stop somewhere nearby.

‘I don’t hear any sound of wings. Did they come running?’

The siblings did not come closer than a certain distance. It was a consideration to allow them to talk comfortably.

A pair of siblings who grew up within the gates but are well-mannered in strange places.

Cheon Do-woon followed the chairman, smiling at the two’s invisible consideration.